Crew USA is golden as soon as once more on the Winter Olympics in Males’s Ice Hockey as they defeated Canada 2-1 in extra time within the Gold Medal Recreation. Jack Hughes will get the headlines for scoring the Golden Aim, however make no mistake about it, Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was the rationale for USA successful Gold.
“Connor Hellebuyck was our greatest participant tonight palms down,” Jack Hughes informed Kathryn Tappen of NBC following the sport.
“They’re going to be speaking about this efficiency for generations,” Matthew Tkachuk stated post-game. “It was an all-time efficiency from a famous person at his place. It’s gonna go down as top-of-the-line performances of all time.”
Can the Winnipeg Jets Struggles Fall on Simply Connor Hellebuyck?
The gamers know the way a lot Connor Hellebuyck meant to them. Whereas he was not named Olympic Event MVP, that went to Canada’s Connor McDavid with 13 factors (probably the most factors on the Olympics with NHL gamers), those that watched the sport know Hellebuyck was the MVP of this match.
Hellebuyck was named finest goaltender of the match, posting a document of 5-0 with a 1.18 targets towards common and a .956 save share. All through the match, he gave up a complete of six targets. Realistically, it was 4 as a result of the 2 targets towards Slovakia within the semifinal got here when Crew USA had the sport out of attain at 5-0.
Within the Golde Medal Recreation towards Canada, Hellebuyck posted a 1.00 GAA and a .976 save share and recorded an help on the game-winning purpose by Jack Hughes. He stopped 41 of 42 pictures, probably the most by any goalie in a gold medal recreation on the Olympics. For a goalie who couldn’t ship in huge moments or huge video games, he silenced a lot of his critics.
“Yeah, allow them to preserve writing these articles and I’ll simply performing. That’s it. That’s all I can do,” Hellebuyck informed Kathryn Tappen of NBC when he was requested concerning the critics saying he couldn’t carry out in huge video games.
Connor Hellebuyck Wants To Resolve His Playoff Street Issues
Whereas some say he wasn’t examined within the preliminary rounds towards Italy and Germany, Hellebuyck was one of the best participant for Crew USA within the medal and knockout rounds. He gave up one purpose to Sweden within the quarterfinals and as beforehand famous, one purpose to Canada within the Gold Medal Recreation. With out Connor Hellebuyck USA doesn’t finish a 46-year drought. He was clutch for this group.
From the drop of the puck, Hellebuyck was within the zone. He made clutch stops on Nathan MacKinnon early then on Connor McDavid within the second interval on a breakaway. To not point out, Hellebuyck was one of the best participant for Crew USA as Canada had a 5-on-3 energy play within the second interval proper earlier than Cale Makar scored to tie the sport at 1-1.
IIHF Acquired it Proper with Three on Three Additional time
Crew USA was on their heels, however there was Hellebuyck making clutch saves. The save of the yr and match was on defenseman Devon Toews, who was parked again door within the crease ready on a cross from Mitch Marner.
As @TedStarkey stated on @FullPressNHL that is the Braden Holtby save from 2018 Remaining vs Vegas #usahockey https://t.co/9B2CA2z4Mt
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) February 22, 2026
Hellebuyck reached again and acquired his paddle on the puck that was written for the again of the online. He acquired sufficient of the puck to alter its path to go simply previous the left purpose put up. With out that response, Canada is up 2-1, and Crew USA doesn’t rating on Jordan Binnington.
It was much like the save Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby made on then Vegas Golden Knights ahead Alex Tuch in Recreation 2 of the Stanley Cup Remaining with Washington up 3-2 late within the third interval.
However Crew USA acquired the breaks the entire recreation. Macklin Celebrini had a number of missed nets within the slot and was robbed by Hellebuyck on a breakaway. Nathan MacKinnon missed huge open internet. Hellebuyck acquired Crew USA to extra time due to his sensible play, because the penalty killing items completed good, after which it simply takes one purpose.
Connor Hellebuyck takes a variety of slack for his play within the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nevertheless, he had a superb 4 Nations for Crew USA, who couldn’t rating and fell 3-2 in extra time to Canada. He posted a document of 2-1 in three video games on the match with a 1.59 GAA and a .945 save share.
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Hellebuyck led all goalies who performed a number of video games within the match with a .929 high-danger save share, together with a 24-save efficiency within the championship recreation. This was simply carry over from his previous performances carrying the Crew USA sweater on the World Championships. Whereas that match isn’t finest on finest, he had the knack for the Worldwide Stage.
This efficiency was arrange by his efficiency in Recreation 7 in interval three towards St. Louis, along with his crew trailing. Hellebuyck determined to get aggressive and massive, conserving his Winnipeg Jets within the recreation, which led to Cole Perfetti‘s tying purpose and Adam Lowry scoring the successful purpose.
Connor Hellebuyck was completely sensible. With out Hellebuyck, Crew USA might not make it this far within the match. He confirmed why he was the Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP final season within the Gold Medal Recreation.
Individuals can nonetheless doubt him, however that’s simply gas to an already lit hearth. It’s time for Connor Hellebuyck to get his due.
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